Windshield visor assembly



June 22, 1554 F. A. KRUSEMQRK WINDSHIELD VISOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 'Feb. 23, 1951 ATTORNEYS.

June 22, 1954 F. A} KRUSEMARK 2,681,700

WIND-SHIELD VISOR ASSEMBLY 2 sheets -sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1951 f B); alyINVENTOR:

ATTGRNEYS.

Patented June 22, 1954 WINDSHIELD VISOR ASSEMBLY Frederick A. Krusemark, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Santay Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1951, Serial No. 212,384 Claims. (0]. 160 -222) This invention relates to visor assemblies for use on automotive vehicles and it relates more particularly to a visor assembly which makes use of a transparent plastic or glass window member and to a new and improved mounting for same on the outside of the automotive vehicle.

An objectionable feature which often arises in the manufacture and use of a visor assembly having a plastic or the like window member reinforced and supported with metallic parts resides in the development of strains and stresses which often lead to breakage or distortion responsive to differences in expansion and contraction of the various materials with changes in tempera ture and humidity conditions while in position of use. Such differences in expansion and contraction are inherent in the materials of which the visor unit is formed. As a result, it is expedient to provide for flexibility in the assembly without loss of rigidity or weakening of the assembled relation to compensate for such differences in expansion and contraction while in position of use and it is an object of this invention to produce a visor assembly of the type described which embodies such features for compensating for the differences in expansion and contraction of the materials of which it is formed.

Another object of this invention is to produce a visor assembly for automotive vehicles characterized by freedom of strain in the assembled relation notwithstanding the differences in expansion and contraction of the various materials of which it is formed.

Another object is to produce a visor assembly having a transparent window member of fragile or distortable material supported in a rigid frame but with sufficient freedom in relative movement to minimize the development of strain responsive to differences in expansion between the window member and its supporting parts when in the assembled relation.

A further object is to produce a visor assembly of the type described which minimizes distortion and breakage of the more fragile visor member or elements when in the assembled relation and it is a related object to produce a visor assembly of the type described which is adequately reinforced in the assembled relation to resist the forcesto which it might be subjected as an incidenceto normal use.

A still further object is to produce a visor assembly of the type described which embodies adjustable means for mounting the assembly to correspond to the width of the vehicle and the contour of the vehicle.

A still further object is to produce a new and improved visor assembly for automotive vehicles and means for adjustably and securely mounting same on the exterior thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a perspective fragmentary view of a visor assembly embodying features of this invention and in position of use over the windshield of the automotive vehicle;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken of the visor member shown in Figure 1 from the under side;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective fragmentary view of the end members forming a part of the visor assembly illustrated in relative position for assembly;

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified form of visor assembly embodying features of this in vention;

Figure 6 is a plan view from the under side of the visor assembly shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1--1 of Figure 6;

"Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is a plan view showing a modified form of channel member.

As shown in Figures 1-4 of the drawing, a visor assembly embodying features of this invention comprises a pair of elongate window sections Ill and H which may be formed of metal, plastic or'glass sheet stock but preferably is formed of transparent plastic or glass material which may be colorless or of a color to filter light and heat rays. The window members may be formed of fiat sheet stock or else molded to desired curvilinear shape to correspond with the streamlining eifect of the windshield l2 and other parts of the automotive vehicle It. The window members H3 and I I are arranged in end to end spaced relation with the adjacent inner portions of the window members having the widest dimension and then tapering downwardly towards the outer end portion and then finally terminating in a rounded end section 14.

The forward and rearward edge portions of the window members slidably seat within. channel strips l5 and I6 respectively, formed of metal or the like material.

The desired spaced relation between channel or the like having channel sections'lfi andlZll' formed at the inner ends inspaced relation corresponding to the desired distance between the;

corresponding end portions of the channel strips E5 and I'G when in the mounted relation; Theerrd portions of the channel strips: I5 and .|.6.'seatwithin the channel sections.lfiianddfl'ofgthea adapter and means are provided for interconnecting the channel strips, when in the assembled relation, to prevent relative movement: As shown" in Figures 2 and 4, such means may comprises-a cutout section 22 in an intermediate portion of the inner wall of the channel sections. Island adapted to be in alignmentfwith splitsectionslfi in the channel strips l5 .andil'fi, when in..the as.-

sembled relation; to enable .thejsplit sections 2.31m.

be turned outwardly to seat Within-thecutouts-ZZ.

It will be understood that other. means for.- con.- necting the. channel strips. to. effect the desired. assembly may be employed,,,such.fortexample, as:

bolts, nuts, rivets or the like for .temporary assembly or welding and thelikefor. permanent assembly.

The curvilinear outer end portion of the adapterhas' an opening! whichxeceives. .amounting screw or bolt 25 forattachingthe adapter to themounting bracket 25. In :order to permit adjustment of lthe adapter-with.respect.-toits mounting bracket for properly mounting the bracket on the vehicle. l3: andifor properly'positioning, the visor. assembly, withrespect to.- the bracket, the adapter isprovided withacurvilinearslottedportion 2'! which receives mounting'screw 28 to permit relative circumferential movement about screw 25as the pivot. Amountingbracket: suitable for use in the assembly shown for. secur--- ing the visor assembly onto the gutter.- of the automotive vehicle or. interchangeably; onto the door postis shownanddescribed. in. my: copending application Ser. No..186,785, filed on Septem-' ber 26, Bracket.

The inner. endportions. ot thechannel strips l5 and H5 telescope or are slidably receivedzin another pair of channel memberstfle and. 3|

1950,. and entitled. Visor Mounting formedoiimetal or the like-:having, their greatest spacedapart relation intermediate the ends-and 5' fixedin the spacedrelationby a; metallic cross-- bracetzfsecured to the. channel members intermediate, their ends by screws 33.01 the-like; The

cross-brace 32ex-tendsfrom the under side of. the assembl-y and-is provided with means,-.such"-as..an.- opening 3 i intermediate. its ends for connection to a rod or bracket which braces the-central. por tion oi the visor assemblyzontoa part of the.automotive vehicle;

Seated :within the channel members 3i] .and 3| and dimensioned to overlap the'spa-ced'inner'ends of the window sections Ill-and II in all positions 1 of adjustment, is a center coverplate-35 which' may be: formed of sheetzmetalior the-like but, for purposes of visability, it ispreferably formed of-transparent-plastic: or, glass material; The

cover.?p1ate'-:35- ise-contoured to. correspond with. thattof the channel members-flfl T and =3 sovassto prevent disconnection when inthe assembled. relation.

In order to permit relative endwise adjustment of the parts to adapt the assembly for variable widths demanded by the automotive vehicle with which it is to be used, the inner flanges 36 of the channel members 30 and 3| are provided with elongate slots 31 and screws 38 extend through the slots and attach to the inner end portions of. the channel strips. l5.- and; Hi to secure'the strips |5and lfi 'swith2channe1:,.members 30 and 3| when properly adjusted for the width of-lthe vehicle. The edge portions of the window sections 10 and II are cut away to clear the screws 38 a's-shown in Figure 3 so that the window sectionseare free. floating in the channel strips.

'2 Movementof the-window sections toward the center support will be limited, however, by the ends of the cut away portions striking the fastenings '38? the'clearance being sufficient to accommodate expansion of the window sections but insutficient 20 to allow the window sections to move away from overlapping relationwith thecendsupportsr The edges'of the plate35, are preferablyalso cutaway.- to clear the fastenings. 38. so. thatthechannel stripsand window sections canrbeadjusted in the'channels 3B and 3| .andthe plate can move. in'the channels 30 and 3| during expansionand. contraction. The depth of. the channel-strips and channel members are calculatedtov embrace. thewindow members and...plates H], II- and 35 to. effect a guiding and 1supportingrelation.when position of usenotwithstanding. differences. in the amount of expansion and contraction-which'takes tothe. channelv strips.,| 5 "and l'fi-thel-clearancebee tween thescrews andthe cutoutedgeportionsrof the window sections, Illandal |Wi11 T8mainICOIle=- stant in .all adjusted positions. Sincesthechannel strips. 5 and. H3 convergev towardv the: endsup ports I. the window sectionscannot moveeout-i ward; Thus the' window sections.-areheld;iproperly positioned while :being able to. float in; the: channels to accommodate difterences-iinsexpanssion .andv contraction. Relative r-movementeimthe endwise directions-is also .permitted between plate- 35 .and its supporting channel members530 a-ndr3 t to compensate for differences ineexpansionaand. contraction. build up between elements rigidly-secured ;one:=toanother areavoided-so that breakageiand distor tion will not exist.

A'preferred modification embodying features of this-invention is shown in' Figures -5-'-8 inclusive: In this modification each of a pair of .windowseca ltions lll-andA-| for-medof plastic, metal .orthe'like material may 'be; heldwithin and; reinforced by; cha-nnel strips,-.such aschannel, strip. 43;-or=.the-- edge sections maybestrengthenedsuificientto:

resist'forces incident to normaluseqbyv'molding ribs therein, such as indicatedby. numeral-42: A's shown in the. drawing,1 a .preferred? modification makes use of the..-reinforcing metal strip 43' adjacent. the vehicleabody and 'thereinforcing'rib at .the- .forward=edge. The: outerend. portions of: the Window sections are slidablyqen a ed. within.

As aresult, strains which might channel sections 44 and 45 arranged on the inner end portion of an adapter 46 secured to the outer end portion of the corresponding window section by a nut and bolt assembly 41 to establish a fixed relation. The channel sections 44 and 45 are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the forward and rearward edge portions of the window section adapted to be embraced thereby when in the assembled relation. The outer end of the adapter 45 is provided with means, such as bolt openings 48 for attaching to a mounting bracket, such as previously described.

.It will be apparent from the description thus far that the outer end portion of the window sections 40 and 4| may be fixed to prevent relative movement with the adapter 46 or the automotive vehicle to which it is attached.

The inner end portions of the window sections 40 and 4| are free for relative endwise adjustment responsive to differences in expansion and contraction without disrupting the assembled relation. For this purpose the inner end of each window panel, whether formed with a reinforcing bead 42 along the outer edges or provided with reinforcing channel strips 43, is received in a manner to permit longitudinal sliding movement within U-shaped members 50 and U-shaped channel member 50 may be formed integral with the edge of the central cover plate 52 or it may be secured, as by screws 5|! to a cross piece 55 extending laterally from a brace 56 across the back of the cover plate 52 and in spaced relation therewith. The forward end portion of the channel member 50, when so mounted, is adapted to extend over the adjacent front wall of the plate 52. U-shaped adapters 5| are pivoted at one end from the outer end portions of cross pieces 54 extending from the other end of brace 55. The free arm of the adapter engages the front wall of the plate. The cover plate 52 may be formed of transparent plastic or the like material or it may be formed of sheet metal and the like. Brace 56 has means, such as openings 51, therein for attachment to a supporting rod and bracing the intermediate portion of the visor assembly onto the vehicle.

The cross pieces 54 and 55 are provided with elongate slots 58 which receive screw members 59 in guiding relation and which attach, as shown in Figure 7, to the inner end portion of the window panels 40 and 4|. The windows panels are thus fixed in their assembled relation to the center cover plate but in a manner to permit relative endwise movement so as to compensate for diiferences in expansion and contraction which might occur.

It will be evident also that the large window sections 40 and Al are free to shift relative to channel strips 42, when employed, to compensate for differences in expansion and contraction which might occur therebetween. It will be evident that relative movements between window sections and channel strip 42 is also permissible to militate against the development of strain responsive to difierences in expansion and contraction.

It will be manifest from the description that I have provided a new and improved visor assembly for mounting on the outside of automotive vehicles providing means for assembling parts in their assembled relation while permitting such relative movement between dissimilar materials of which the visor assembly is formed to minimize the development of strain and distortion of parts responsive to differences of expansion. The

the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A visor assembly for use on the outside of an automotive vehicle above the windshield thereof, said visor assembly comprising metal outer and supports adapted to be secured to the sides of the vehicle adjacent to the ends of the windshield, a center support adapted to be secured to the center part of the vehicle to lie spaced above the center portion of the windshield, front and rear metal channel strips connecting each of the end supports to the center support and lying in spaced relation with their channels opening toward each other, window sections of non-metallic material having their front and rear edges fitting slidably in the channel strips with their ends in overlapping relationship with the end and center supports, and means on the channel strips and the window sections to limit relative sliding therebetween while allowing the window sections to slide in the channels to accommodate differences in expansion and contraction of the metal channel strips and the non-metallic window sections.

A visor assembly for use on the outside of an automotive vehicle above the windshield thereof, said visor assembly comprising metal outer end supports adapted to be secured to the sides of the vehicle adjacent to the ends of the windshield, a center support adapted to be secured to the center part of the vehicle to lie spaced above the center portion of the windshield, front and rear metal channel strips connecting each of the end supports to the center support and lying in spaced relation with their channels opening toward each other, window sections of non-metallic material having their front and rear edges fitting slidably in the channel strips with their ends in overlapping relationship with the end and center supports, and fastening means securing one end of each window section to the adjacent support to hold the window section against movement at one point while leaving it free to float in the channels throughout the major part of its periphery.

3. A visor assembly for use on the outside of an automotive vehicle above the windshield thereof, said visor assembly comprising metal outer end supports adapted to be secured to the sides of the vehicle adjacent to the ends of the windshield, a center support adapted to be secured to the center part of the vehicle to lie spaced above the center portion of the windshield, front and rear metal channel strips connecting each of the end supports to the center support and lying in spaced relation with their channels opening toward each other, window sections of non-metallic material having their front and rear edges fitting slidably in the channel strips with their ends in overlapping relationship with the end and center supports, the center support including inwardly opening metal channels receiving the inner ends of the channel strips and window sections, and a sheet of non-metallic material fitting slidably in the channels and overlapping the adjacent ends of the window sections.

4. A visor assembly for use on the outside of mealanaeautomotivee vehicle-hauovethe windshield thereof: :saidr: visor assemblwcomprisingn metal.

Off? thee: ends-supports; to theccenter support; and

lying-in; spacecla'elationzwithrtheir channels openingvtoward each other, windowr sections :.of nonmetallic material having their front and rear edgesgifittmgzslidably;.jin:. the channel strips with theimendszzin: overlapping: relationship with l the endtsandizcenteriwsupports; theecentral support inehidmgzinwardlyaopeningxchannels-into "which the 831134521X? endscof i the: channel strips: slidably fit;

I v52; Atvisorrassemblyvf or :usezonzthemutside of fan autcmotiveavehicler above ztheawindshield thereof,

said. ViSOlTt' assembly-cv comprising? metal outer end suDROrts::radap,ted-: to; be? secured: tor-the sides .of

thewehicletrarij acentqtmthezendsof the Windshield, az centeivsupport adapted 1 to" be secured to 1 the V centenrpart ofa the-vehicle: to lie spacedabove' the center :portion'zofrthe:.-windsh-ield; frontand rear:

metal channel: strips connecting; each of thesenid supportsto-thetaentensupportiand'lying-inspaced relation iwithetheir' channelsaopening toward eachother, Window sections: of non-metallic material having their; frontza'ndmearedges fitting slid? ably :in the" channel strips :With'their 'endsin over lapping relationship with the end'and center supports; the central. support: including inwardly opening channelsslidably receiving the adjacent endsofthe'i'channel strips; a'central panel fitting at its edges in the channels:andioverlapping the adjacent ends of the window-sections, and fasteningrmeans tosecure: the channel": strips toflthe channels; in" any oneof a plurality of positions whereby the :length of'i the-visor assembly-cam be adjusted.

References Gited imthezfileof this patent- UNITED' STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date.

827,483 Voorhees, July 31,,1906. 2,334,856 Atkinson r NOV.:23',V19 43- 2,500;406' Greenfield v Mar. 14,1950 2 $97,050 Thibault Feb. 7, 1950, 2,50 61 08 Riemann vet al. v May, 2,1950: $614,628 Riemann, Oct.v 21,1952. 

